Obscured by Clouds. The rough and ready blog of a cloud benighted biologist and amateur astronomer. Astroblog will cover my interests in astronomy, biology and Life, the Universe and Everything.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Sky This Week - Thursday June 26 to Thursday July 3

The New Moon is Friday June 27. Jupiter is low in the early evening
sky and is visited by the crescent Moon on the 29th. Mars and Saturn are prominent in the evening sky. Venus is
prominent in the morning sky, coming close to the red star Aldebaran and forming a second "eye" for the constellation of the Bull.

The New Moon is Friday June 27.The Moon is at apogee (furthest from the Sun) on July 1st.

Evening
sky on Sunday June 29 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide at 18:00
pm ACST in South Australia. Jupiter is above the north-western
horizon with the crescent Moon close by. Similar views will be seen elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).

At 6:00 pm if you have a level horizon free of obstructions, you can see
three bright planets strung out across the sky, Jupiter just above the
horizon, Mars high in the northern sky and Saturn above the eastern horizon.

Jupiter
is low to the horizon when twilight ends. Jupiter sets around 19:00,
telescopic observation
is not really worthwhile now.

In the early evening Jupiter is above the north-western horizon between the
bright
stars Castor and Pollux, the twins of Gemini, and the bright red star
Betelgeuse. Jupiter is quite easy to
see as the brightest object above the western horizon in the early evening. In the early evening the
sight of bright Jupiter sinking to the west, and bright Mars (still not
as bright as Jupiter though) to the north and Saturn rising in the east is quite beautiful.

Jupiter's Moons are readily visible in binoculars.

Mars is easily seen in the northern and north-western evening sky.
It is highest in the sky around 19:00. Mars was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest, on the 9th of April, and
is still
readily distinguishable as the bright red/orange object above the
northern horizon in the early evening. Mars is in the constellation of Virgo near the
brightish star Porrima, and is slowly coming closer to the bright star Spica. Mars is still worthwhile looking at in a
telescope now, although you will need a decent one to see any detail.

Saturn is rising higher in the evening sky, and was at opposition on the 11th. Saturn
is visible all night long. Saturn is high enough
from around 10 pm for decent telescopic observation (see below).
Saturn is in Libra near the head
of the constellation of the Scorpion and forms a shallow triangle with the
two brightest stars of Libra, its apex pointing towards the head of the
Scorpion.

Morning sky on Monday June 30 looking north-east as seen from Adelaide
at 6:30 am ACST. Venus is close to the bright star Aldebaran. Similar views will be seen throughout
Australia at equivalent
local times. (click
to embiggen).

Venus is in the morning sky, above the north-eastern horizon. The brightest object
in the morning sky, it is easy
to see and although it is past maximum
brightness, it will dominate the early morning sky for some time to come.

Venus was at its furthest distance from
the Sun on the 23rd of March, and is slowly sinking towards
the horizon. Venus is a clear gibbous Moon shape in a telescope.
During the week Venus passes close to the "A" shaped Hyades cluster that forms the head of the
Bull. By the 30th Venus is close to the bright red star Aldebaran forming a second "eye" in the head of the Bull.

Evening
sky on Saturday June 28 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 22:00
pm
ACST in South Australia. The inset shows the telescopic views of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent
local time (click to embiggen).

There are lots
of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially
with Mars and Venus and Saturn so prominent in the sky. If you don't have a telescope, now
is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.